Backed by Adam Lambert, Josh Gad, and a talented cast, the two women grounded the flamboyant musical in a transcendent spirituality and human compassion.
By John Lavitt
Hollywood, CA (The Hollywood Times) 08-06-2025
During a weekend of musical wonder under the stars, Jesus Christ Superstar at the Hollywood Bowl soared to divine heights with Cynthia Erivo as Jesus and Phillipa Soo as Mary Magdalene. With a production directed by Tony Award-winning Sergio Trujillo and led by musical director Stephen Oremus, this refreshed rock opera blended spectacle and spirit into a transcendent night.
While the cast showcased incredible talents—including Adam Lambert’s fiery Judas and Josh Gad’s delightfully unhinged Herod—it was the emotional depth of Erivo and Soo that grounded the extravagance in something truly human. Together, they infused the show with soul and compassion, balancing style with substance.
Erivo, a Tony, Grammy, and Emmy Award winner with three Academy Award nominations, delivered a spiritual performance that was both raw and redemptive. Her portrayal of Jesus was not just majestic—it was profoundly vulnerable, inviting the audience to witness the anguish and courage of a soul torn between divine purpose and mortal pain. Her rendition of “Gethsemane” shook the Bowl to its core, radiating an honesty that went beyond theatricality. You didn’t just hear the cry of a Savior—you felt the human beneath the halo.
At the same time, as Jesus is overwhelmed by the wounded crowd, each with a different ailment and each desperate for healing, there is a striking modernity in the moment. Like paparazzi chasing a celebrity on Hollywood Boulevard, the crowd is relentless. Jesus does not know where to turn, and Erivo captures the desperation of the moment perfectly. There is no escape from the wanting.
Phillipa Soo, beloved for her role as Eliza in Hamilton, brought a radiant grace to Mary Magdalene. Her compassionate gaze stayed with Erivo’s side, and in every subtle gesture, Soo depicted Mary as a woman who genuinely saw the man inside the Messiah. Her rendition of “I Don’t Know How to Love Him” was deeply moving in its intimacy, exposing layers of love, confusion, and devotion. As a voice of tenderness amid chaos, Soo gave the rock opera its beating heart.
The production, returning to its rock roots, embraced visual splendor without sacrificing emotional authenticity. Jason Ardizzone-West’s scenic design and Emilio Sosa’s modern, minimalist costuming kept the focus on the characters, while Stephen Oremus’s musical direction revitalized Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s iconic score.
Erivo and Soo together were transcendent. In scenes where Jesus and Mary met eye to eye, the Bowl fell silent—drawn in by a spiritual magnetism rarely seen on this stage. The chemistry between the two actors felt ancient and eternal, as if the story had never been told quite this way before. Moreover, Philippa Soo’s humanity kept the play grounded in a reality that was not overtaken by Adam Lambert’s flamboyance, Josh Gad’s comic flair, or the score’s campy drama.
In a world craving both passion and purpose, Jesus Christ Superstar at the Hollywood Bowl offered a timely reminder of love’s redemptive power. And in Cynthia Erivo and Phillipa Soo, the production found not just stars, but vessels of soul and heart. Indeed, the two performers should tour the country with this play, opening eyes to a transcendent reality of soul and suffering, love and compassion.
Photos by Farah Sosa, Courtesy of The Hollywood Bowl
